The English Revolution
(1640-60) began in November 1640 when Charles 1st. summoned Parliament
to help him out of a financial crisis. Charles was very unpopular and
was forced to agree to radical reforms which gave Parliament a more
prominent roll in the constitution.

The political crisis escalated
and the "Long Parliament" split into two opposing parties in
the Autumn of 1641, forming the King's party of Royalists (Cavaliers)
and the Parliamentarians (Roundheads), who demanded further political
and religious reforms. The events of 1640/41 led to the Civil War
which began in August 1642.

It was agreed and ordered on the
3rd May 1641, that every Member of the House of Commons should make a
protestation (declaration of loyalty), which the House of Lords also
agreed to the following day.

The Commons ordered the printing
of the protestation and preamble on the 5th May 1641 and this was
distributed by the Members to their counties. The Protestation was to
be made by everyone and the Rectors, Churchwardens and Overseers of
the Poor had to appear before the Justices of the Peace in their
Hundred to make their protestation and, on returning to their
parishes, any two of them were to witness the taking of the
Protestation Oath by all males over the age of 18 years. All names
were listed and anyone who refused was to be noted.

The protestation itself reads:-

I,-------- do, in the presence
of Almighty God, promise, vow, and protest to maintain, and defend as
farr as lawfully I maye, with my Life, Power and Estate, the true
Reformed Protestant religion, expressed in the Doctrine of the Church
of England, against all Popery and Popish Innovations, within this
Realme, contrary to the same Doctrine, and according to the duty of my
Allegiance, His Majesties Royal Person, Honour and Estate, as alsoe
the Power and Privileges of Parliament, the lawful Rights and
Liberties of the Subjects, and any person that maketh this
Protestation, in whatsoever he shall do in the lawful Pursuance of the
same; and to my power, and as farr as lawfully I may, I will appose
and by all good Ways and Means endeavour to bring to condign
Punishment all such as shall, either by Force, Practice, Councels,
Plots, Conspiracies, or otherwise, doe any Thing to the contrary of
any Thing in this present Protestation contained: and further, that I
shall, in all just and honourable ways, endeavour to preserve the
Union and Peace betwixt the Three Kingdoms of England, Scotland and
Ireland: and neither for Hope, Feare, nor other Respect, shell
relinquish this Promise, Vow and Protestation.